Little Acorns Baby Charity (registration no. 1194199)
Trustees’ Report
6[th] April 2024 to 5[th] April 2025
Structure, Governance and Management
Little Acorns Baby Bank was set up on 7[th] December 2020 and was registered with The Charities Commission for England and Wales as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 22[nd] April 2021 and became Little Acorns Baby Charity (registration no. 1194199).
Trustees:
Rebecca Anderson
Neil Garlick
Sally Garlick
The charity is managed and run by the trustees.
As detailed in the charity’s constitution, there must be at least three trustees, new trustees will be appointed by a meeting of the existing trustees, and appointed for a minimum term of 2 years.
Principal Address: 1 Carr Row, Leamside, DH4 6QH
Objectives and Activities
The purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document:
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The prevention and relief of poverty among socially and/or economically disadvantaged individuals and families in Durham/Chester le Street and the surrounding areas who are pregnant or have children aged, in particular but not exclusively, under 2 years and are unable to provide basic equipment, consumables, food, clothing and toys for babies and children by supplying them with new and recycled items free of charge.
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To preserve and protect good health of babies and children under 2 years in Durham/Chester le Street and the surrounding area by facilitating projects relating to parenting and the health and wellbeing of babies and children.
The original aim was to set up a baby bank service to help those struggling during the pandemic by collecting good quality used and new baby items from the public and re-distributing them to families
in need free of charge. We initially explored projects and partnership working in order to reach more people quickly. We then established donation points, collected and stored enough items to enable us to meet requests and rely less on grants for buying in items.
Where we are based/area covered
We continue (since June 2021) to rent the upper hall at Bethel United Reform Church in Chester le Street. Rent remains at £25 a month (since September 2022). We delivered referrals to postcodes DH1, 2, 3 and 4 but accepted referrals from across County Durham providing collection could be made and there wasn’t a closer baby bank service to the family.
What we collect and supply
We accept items such as baby clothing, toiletries, nappies, sterilisers and maternity items. We had two donation points throughout this year: Chester le Street Methodist Church and Clart About Sensory Café in Consett. The Little Wardrobe NE shop based in Newton Hall Durham was used as a donation point up until end of July 2024 when it became a pop up shop in another business in Bear Park (DH7), and was no longer feasible as a donation point. We continue to use a wishlist of items to match high need/low stock. This was advertised on our Facebook page and donations were dropped off or purchased through our Amazon wishlist.
The only large equipment item we supplied were safety gates purchased new, primarily from Babybase Wholesale who sell to charities.
Referral process
We continued to use our Google form for professionals to refer individuals for support. Referrals are then packed and then either collected by the professional or are delivered directly to the family by a member of the Little Acorns team.
Donations/Fundraising
The charity Just Giving page is set up for donations from the public.
No fundraising was undertaken this year. A grant from Karbon Homes was obtained for the bulk of baby items expenditure this year (Safety gates and changing mats).
Public benefit statement
The Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit as published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. In setting our objectives and planning activities our Trustees have given consideration to the public benefit and in particular to the prevention or relief of poverty.
Achievements and Performance
Little Acorns Baby Charity received and fulfilled 34 referrals this year. We were able to give generously with clothing bundles due to the established stock built up through public donations and were able to offer most other baby and maternity items requested from our donated stock. We bought safety gates and changing mats, and formula when we did not have the right brand in stock.
We applied for and secured a grant from Karbon Homes Durham of £580 for buying in 20 safety gates and 20 changing mats.
We continued a relationship with the Community Champion at Morrisons Chester-le-Street who supported us through their ‘Pick Up Packs’ when we were in need of baby items in May 2024. In November 2024 ‘Lorraine Big Baby Bank Appeal’ ran nationally in partnership with the Baby Bank Alliance and Morrisons to collect baby items for local baby banks. Morrisons Chester-le-Street and Morrisons Consett ran the appeal for Little Acorns Baby Charity.
Financial Review
Little Acorns Baby Charity accounts for the period 6th April 2024 to 5[th] April 2025 shows a deficit of £107 in year and cash at bank at year end of £373.
We have no reserves policy set. Our current costs are £25 a month rent and annual insurance cost £99. We undertake a monthly bank reconciliation and spending is very much dependent on income. We have established a good level of public donations and have access to community support through Morrisons Chester-le-Street. The main item we buy in is baby gates. We applied for a grant from Karbon Homes Durham this year to cover the bulk of buying these in.
We remain in a good position moving forward and there are no uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern.
Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustee’s report above.
Signed on behalf of the Charity’s trustees
Sally Garlick (Chair)
Date: 21.01.26
Charity Name No (if any) Little Acorns Baby Charity 1194199 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 6th April 2024 5th April 2025
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 433 580 - - - - - - 1,013 - - - 1,013 300 99 20 701 - - - - - 1,120 - - - 1,120 - 107 - 480 373 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 433 580 - - - - - - 1,013 - - - 1,013 300 99 20 701 - - - - - 1,120 - - - 1,120 - 107 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 433 580 - - - - - - 1,013 - - - 1,013 300 99 20 701 - - - - - 1,120 - - - 1,120 - 107 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 433 | 374 | ||||
| Grants | 580 | - | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
1,013 | 374 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
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| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
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| 374 | ||||||
| Rent | 300 | 300 | ||||
| Insurance | 99 | 99 | ||||
| Expenses | 20 | 14 | ||||
| Baby/Maternityitems for referrals | 701 | 543 | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 1,120 | 956 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
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| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
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| 956 | ||||||
| - 107 | - | - | - 107 | - 582 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 480 | - | - | 480 | - | ||
| 373 | - | - | 373 | - 582 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
20/01/2026
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B2 Other monetary assets B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Cash at bank Details Details Shelving/storage Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 373 - - - - - 373 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) 1,004 - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Sally Garlick |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
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| - | |||
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| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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| Sally Garlick | 20.01.26 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
20/01/2026
2